Laundry Tips

Oxygen bleach is an emerging tool in the arsenal of a modern drycleaner, and wet cleaning, using eco-friendly enzyme detergents and colorfast oxygen bleach, is a rapidly growing segment in our industry. Unlike your mother’s traditional chlorine bleach (sodium hypochlorite), oxygen bleach uses the gentler sodium percarbonate* to whiten whites and brighten colors. In addition to being odorless and colorless, oxygen bleach has stain removal properties, but remember that oxygen bleach is a detergent additive, and it must work in tandem with a laundry detergent to achieve the most favorable result. As you’ll see below, optical brighteners are typically included in color-safe oxygen bleach detergent additives. This ingredient is like an invisible layer on fabrics that reflects light, making colors appear brighter and whites whiter.

Our washing machines are electronically controlled to draw the appropriate blend of enzyme detergent and colorfast bleach for each type of wet cleaning load, and though our certifications and awards suggest we’re among the best at what we do, there are principles that you can follow to improve the results you achieve in your washing machine at home. Since we’re using some tips from The Clorox Company on this page and others, it’s only fair to mention that Clorox offers multiple oxygen bleach detergent additives under their OxiClean trademark, but there are other options available to you. Just look for the words ‘Colorfast’ and/or ‘Chlorine Free’ and you’ll be at the right place in the shopping aisle.

* Mixed with water in liquid form, the contents break down to hydrogen peroxide—an eco-friendly combination of water and oxygen plus sodium carbonate (commonly known as washing soda or soda ash).

Sorting Clothes Avoids Most Laundry Problems

Even in an all-baby-clothes washload it’s important to sort clothing to prevent more work for you later. Sort loads by:

• Color
• Whites and pastels together.
• Same-color brights.
• Dark colors together
• Multicolored clothes that have lots of white and dark colors are best washed separately the first time. If the dye does not bleed or run it can be washed along with whites the next time.
• Fabric Type
• Separate delicate or lightweight fabrics from heavy ones.
• Lint producers (towels) from lint attractants (corduroy)
• Heavily Soiled
• These clothes need special treatment. Always wash soiled diapers separately because they have very high levels of bacteria.

Drying Tips

• To make sure stains are gone, air-dry stained clothes first. Dryer heat can permanently set some stains. If stains remain, treat and wash again..
• Avoid overloading the dryer. Clothes take longer to dry and wrinkle more.
• Don’t overdry clothes. Overdrying can increase wrinkles and shrinkage. Remove stretch items from the dryer when just barely dry.
• Air-dry plastic pants, bibs and rubber items. Heat can cause rubber to deteriorate and plastic to harden.
• Remove clothes as soon as they’re dry. Hang or fold right away to prevent wrinkles and time-consuming ironing.